The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-19
A LIBERAL OFFER TO DOXEY
An Interested Gas Company's PROPOSE
tion to Pay Him for Leaving Town.
Street Talk About the Deal That Is Supposed
to Have Been Made and Proposed Changes
i'm the Gas Ordinance.

and opinions attending the pipeline projects OF
months ago. What the indianapolis company
proposes to do was the talk the streets and in
business circles yesterday, but It cannot be said
that the proposition to increase the present or
dinance rates met with much favor Manu-
facturers have not evinced much opposition, for
it is given out that no change of rates will be
asked in regard to them, but the average
sumner had his story to tell about monopoies,
the grinding down of the people, and that the
Council ought not to tamper with the prices
Perhaps of this feeling is due to the peo-
pies soreness Doxey's failure. which is
about fresh as it last week. In many
instances Major Doxey received anything but
complimentary notice, and the report got abroad
that the present position and purposes OF the
Indianapolis company are the sequence of deal
the latter made with the Major to have him
abandon the field. Ir support of this what
Charles E. Reyn olds. the real estate dealer, has
to say in regard to the supposed deal extern
sively used. Mr.. Reynolds told a Journal re-
porter last evening that he did not wish to ap-
pear in the character of a schemer. What he
knew came from personal dealings with Mr..
Doxey, at the solicitation of a member of the
Indianapolis Natural-gas Company. Before 1
consented to take part in the business" Mr.
Reynolds continued. 81 told the company's
representative that whatever dealings occurred
between Major Doxey and myself must be open
fair and honorable. l accepted the mission as
/ would an order to sell piece of real estate or
any other property intrusted to my agency.
With this understanding I went twice to Major
Doxey with proposition that if he
would leave the city and abandon his
enterprise, all the expenses he had incurred in
the matter would be paid. On both occasions
he simply smiled. and said that he was not in a
position to entertain any proposition of the kind
at that time. The Indianapolis company's rep
resentative said that his principals could do
nothing so long Doxey was here making
promises, and that it was absolutely necessary
to have him abandon the field. The company
would gladly pay his expenses if he would con-
sent to give up his purposes. ] know nothing
moro about the matter. If any proposition Of
the kind was accepted by Doxey it aid not
through me. feel sure however, that il Doxey
had gone into the deal he would have made it
directly with the company, and not through any
middle man. His going away would be to the
advantage of any company that remained" BY
others it is stated that the Major paid 500
900 to return to Anderson.
But this is only feature OF the present gas
discussion, which is not wanting in some queer
statements from those who vigorously oppose
any change in the schedule prices. ''The peo-
pie are opposed to any amendment OF the ordi-
Fletcher to ask it. That is business and in bus
mess there IS no sentiment. i would do the
same thing myself if 1 was in his place. If was
a stakeholder in the Indianapolis company l
would want to get much for its chs coud
be had. But am not. am a consumer with
10 INTEREST in that or any other company, so
want to buy my gas az as cheap rate as possible"
Another gentleman had the same views but
afterwards modified them to such an extent as
to say, 81 would be willing have some con-
cessous made and would like to see the tax
Of three cents per foot mains taken off if the
schedule rates allowed to remain as they
The tax, | think, would be sufficient to off
set the increase in prices the company wants"
gentleman who has kept account of the
fuel he has used for years said that rate
twenty-five per cent. less than the Standard Oil
prices would be Of no benefit to him and that If
the change made and gas should come he
would not use it. "The people in my part of the
city. L think would favor concessions but none
to prices"
There is also middle ground assumed by
others who would be willing to have the prices
increased for a limited time say three four
years. This. think" a citizen remarked
1.-The Indian apolis company will accept" This
agrees with the opinion of another, who is in a
position to know what the company would do
1.-The company" he said, docs not want the
Council to bear all the risks in the enterprise,
~ the supply Of gas Indianapolis will have at
the end of a few years. The company feels safe
in undertaking an investment for five six
years, but it wants a return that will assure it
some profit in the uncertainty that attends the
supply. 1t may last forever. and in that event |
believe the company would be willing to furn-
An alderman was of the opinion that he could |
afford to pay coal and wood prices for gas rather
than TO be without it. councilman said: !
NV Whatever We do, we will have to take to tho |
woods 1t is impossible to satisfy everybody,
and do not intend to try it. This morning a |
man who worked and voted against me hauled |
have been elected il it was thought you would |
not have stood by the present ordnance i |
know that told him. but great many things |
are be considered before give my opinion on |
the present proposition. You are q coal man, |
and it is your interest to keep gas out of the |
city, He talked about waiting until the Legis- |
allowing the city to pipe gas l told MIN that |
was nonsense, and that the only benefit of hold.
ing off until then would be in giving him |
other year to sell coal and put up the prices |
every time the moon changed. Another citizen |
came to me this morning ready to make conces-
sions. He returned in the afternoon oppos cd to |
Street talk frightened him, as it does several |
councilmen who look upon their official position |
as the stepping stone TO something greater"
Messrs. Fletcher and Branham did not return |
yesterday, but they will be home to-day, when
it is thought the time for the called meeting will
be fixed.
came in yesterday It is known as |
the Mudcre we'll. and is said to be equal to |
the first drilled at Fishers station. from which
it is not far off. While the Indianapolis compa- |
ny is negotiating for the Guffey leases, and is
waiting for amendments to the ordinance, tho |
Broad Ripple company, while Strengthening its |
tracts for pipe. 1t is said that w. c. Failey has
gone into this company, and that he and Mr..
Jiilson are in the East to buy pipe. This COM
pany. it is Representa- ted. is satisfied with the
present schedule of rates. and claims to have +
more gas land than the Indianapolis company.
Mr. Root returned from the Mud-creek gas
we'll, last night, and says that after going into
Trenton rock three feet the flow of gas became
terrific. Large pieces of iron thrown into the
pipe the top of the derrick Rail-
road spikes under the same force went spinning
through the trees, cutting off twigs and leaves
neatly as if with knife. at is the largest we'll
IN Marion comfy" said Mr.. Root, land it has
more of the characteristics of Pennsylvania
wells than any found in Indiana. estimate its
capacity to be third larger than that of the
w wright at Nobesvlle. It is eighteen miles
from the CITY, and lies directly west OF Fishers |